Lieutenant General Robert J. "Bob" Elder Jr. (born October 15, 1952) is the former Commander, 8th Air Force; Commander, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana; and Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space and Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska. He is now a member of the research faculty at George Mason University. As one of three active-duty numbered air forces in Air Combat Command, 8th Air Force provides long-range global strike, battle management, surveillance and reconnaissance, intelligence, information operations, tactical air control, and expeditionary heavy construction capabilities to combatant commanders. The "Mighty Eighth" also conducted computer network operations as the Air Force component to the Joint Task Force for Global Network Operations before that duty was transferred to 24th Air Force, and trains Air and Space Operations Center personnel for worldwide deployment and participation in the multinational Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment. As the Joint Functional Component Commander for Space and Global Strike, General Elder serves as the lead integrator for USSTRATCOM crisis action planning, conducts global strike planning to deliver rapid, extended range, kinetic and non-kinetic effects in support of theater and national objectives, and provides situational awareness and integrated analysis of global mission capabilities for all STRATCOM operational responsibilities. General Elder also commands Task Force 204, which is responsible for monitoring all nuclear bomber, reconnaissance, and cruise missile generation operations. The Task Force 204 battlestaff is a cross-functional team that manages the generation, sustainment, logistics, security and safety of more than 100 B-2, B-52 Stratofortress, U-2, EP-3 and RC-135 aircraft at seven bases. Biography Education 1970 University of Detroit Jesuit High School, Michigan 1975 Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, University of Detroit, Michigan 1975 Master's degree in engineering, University of Detroit, Michigan 1979 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence 1985 Doctor of Engineering, University of Detroit, Michigan 1987 Distinguished graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama 1989 Air War College, by seminar 1991 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 1997 Senior Executive Program, Columbia University Graduate School of Business, New York, N.Y. 2001 Senior Executive Course, George C. Marshall College of International and Security Studies, Garmisch, Germany 2002 Combined Force Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama 2005 Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama 2005 Systems Acquisition Management for General/Flag Officers Course, Fort Belvoir, Virginia 2006 Pinnacle Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. Assignments May 1976, student,